I HATE books that dupe you. Call a spade a spade. Don't disguise a book by enticing me with something else j*1.5 stars. And, NO, I'm not rounding up.*
I HATE books that dupe you. Call a spade a spade. Don't disguise a book by enticing me with something else just to get me to pick it up and read it. I was SO excited for this book. Anything Titanic ✔️ I'm a librarian and an even longer book-clubber, so anything with a book club ✔️ Sucker for a beautiful cover✔️ And I loved the premise of this: fate-intervened survivors finding each other and then talking about books?? Absolutely.
This is hardly what I ended up getting from this book. It started off beautifully. I loved the writing style, truly touching phrases about the power of books/words/characters. And then it's like the author got side-tracked by a whole other story and then was like, "Oh yeah, I was writing about a book club. I better get the reader back to that, whoops."
It had SUCH potential. Ugh.
Then I remembered my same book club chose another one of his books years ago, The Swan Gondola, and I didn't like that either. I won't be giving this author a third go....more
I'm sure I would not rate the book 5 stars, because let's be honest here, it's Dickens. He likes to drag on a bit. I've never read the full length novI'm sure I would not rate the book 5 stars, because let's be honest here, it's Dickens. He likes to drag on a bit. I've never read the full length novel, and I'm sure it's great, but this dramatic audio book performance gets all the stars. The production gives off a very ominous and spooky feel, which worked well for an October listen. The entire cast did a fantastic job with bringing this classic to life, and I was so drawn in it felt like I was right there with the characters on the streets of Victorian London. If you've never read the book, but eventually plan to "get around to it", I highly recommend going this route....more
I was about as bored with this book as Catherine is with her life. The whole story (which takes place in the late 13th century) is t1995 Newbery Honor
I was about as bored with this book as Catherine is with her life. The whole story (which takes place in the late 13th century) is told through diary entries, which I liked, but hearing her go on and on about how dull her life is and her boring daily tasks...bleh. I'm just throwing up a quick prayer thanking you, Lord, that I was not alive in 1290. As for the audio, it was decent (and I swear the narrator sounds just like Judy Dench), but Cushman's "Alchemy and Meggy Swann" audio is much, much better. I'd only recommend this book to someone who likes historical fiction and is a fan of Cushman.
Merged review:
1995 Newbery Honor
I was about as bored with this book as Catherine is with her life. The whole story (which takes place in the late 13th century) is told through diary entries, which I liked, but hearing her go on and on about how dull her life is and her boring daily tasks...bleh. I'm just throwing up a quick prayer thanking you, Lord, that I was not alive in 1290. As for the audio, it was decent (and I swear the narrator sounds just like Judy Dench), but Cushman's "Alchemy and Meggy Swann" audio is much, much better. I'd only recommend this book to someone who likes historical fiction and is a fan of Cushman....more
I liked the plot, but barely liked any of the characters. I was a big fan of the setting (despite Buckeye blood, LOL). Meryl Streep's narration ABSOLUI liked the plot, but barely liked any of the characters. I was a big fan of the setting (despite Buckeye blood, LOL). Meryl Streep's narration ABSOLUTELY pushed this review up a star. She was fantastic, as always.
Honestly, I don't think I could have finished this one if I would have read it. I just did not like anyone other than Lara and Joe and the Cherry Farm (which is it's own character in itself, completely). I am happy I listened to this and finished it because I was interested in the writing style, and entranced by Streep's voice....more
I liked this right from the start because of the author's writing style, but I was a bit "put out" (haha) by how long it took to discover a body and sI liked this right from the start because of the author's writing style, but I was a bit "put out" (haha) by how long it took to discover a body and set the mystery in motion. I guess from the handful of cozy mysteries I have read, I'm used to this part happening sooner in the book. But I did like Georgie a lot, and I plan to continue the series, eventually.
*One side note: I was not a fan of Darcy, for some reason. I can't put my finger on why exactly, but more poor heart was extremely sad about this! Hopefully, he'll grow on me in the books to come.
*Oh! And a thing that perturbed me with my edition was that cover! I liked it perfectly until I realized the main character is not a blonde. I get very disgruntled when publishers do this. Ugh....more
This was pretty twisty and fantastic. However, I was so MAD AT MY*4.5 stars rounded up, because The House Across the Lake is still my favorite of his.
This was pretty twisty and fantastic. However, I was so MAD AT MYSELF when I had roughly 100 pages to go and I looked at the back of the book to see the last page number (because I'm OCD like that) and my eyes caught the words on that page. I quickly slammed the book shut, and cried "noooooooo!" I COULD NOT believe I accidentally spoiled the ending for myself. *face palm*
So then I spent the next 100 PLUS SIXTEEN pages trying to figure out and make the connection with what I knew and what I saw. Ughhhhh. I was close with a few details wrong, but I REALLY enjoyed this book.
In summary, go read this book, and do not be me. Do not check the back of the book. Just sit back and enjoy the thrills.
PLEASE tell me, Riley Sager, your next title is coming immediately....more
I really enjoyed these short stories, but my favorite was "A Jury of Her Peers" by Susan Glaspell. While it's not a cheery inside view of marriage (quI really enjoyed these short stories, but my favorite was "A Jury of Her Peers" by Susan Glaspell. While it's not a cheery inside view of marriage (quite the opposite, really), it captures the FEMININE perspective wonderfully. This story isn't just about a wife, but about women understanding other women. I was fascinated by the truth there.
Other titles, from this collection, at the top of my list include: "Eve's Diary" (creative insight into Eden) "The Story of an Hour" (loved this ending!) "Death and the Woman" (this could be my husband and I one day <3)...more
"It is only a lack of imagination that you are bored."
This book is quite the gem, and I'm so glad my book club picked it for our December read. It was"It is only a lack of imagination that you are bored."
This book is quite the gem, and I'm so glad my book club picked it for our December read. It was perfect for the Christmas season. It brought me to tears a few times, and had me falling in love with just the idea of "storytelling" all over again. The awe of the imagination. How we pull from our lives to create stories, and how reading stories influence our own lives. This was a beautiful book, and Callahan paints vivid, gorgeous scenes.
I had a lot of favorite quotes from here, so many lines that just spoke to my book-loving, Christ-loving heart. One of my favorites was, "'You have taught me that talking and writing aren't merely for chatter. They are, above all, a means to discovering the truth.'" Another: "'You must be very careful about what you choose to read--unless you want to stay stuck in your opinions and hard-boiled thoughts, you must be very careful.'" And: "Logic--it can't help me in the soul things that matter." And my favorite: "...because now he understood that all books worth loving were worth reading over and over." Oh, and one more: "Grief is the price I paid for loving fiercely, and that was okay, because there was no other choice but to love fiercely and fully."
I can't wait to re-visit this book over and over again. <3
"And he heard, as loud as a new world thundering out of the cosmos, the mighty roar of a lion."...more
I really want to like survival books. I really do. I'm a big fan of when authors bring the scenery to life, nature, a house, giving it characteristicsI really want to like survival books. I really do. I'm a big fan of when authors bring the scenery to life, nature, a house, giving it characteristics that really make it a necessary part of the story. However, I just can't with with this one. It was the same way I felt about Hatchet. Paulsen's writing IS beautiful and poetic, but I want more. I rated this title higher than Hatchet because the narration on this one is spot on and really gives it a meditative feel (one of exploring one's inner self).
And the subject matter, and the thoughts of the MC really bring to mind Paulsen's end of life experience and maybe what he tended to be thinking at this time....more
As a Christian, I still really enjoyed this audio book. It was like settling in to listen to great storytelling around a fire. I just wish the audio iAs a Christian, I still really enjoyed this audio book. It was like settling in to listen to great storytelling around a fire. I just wish the audio included a PDF so you could see the glossary....more
Brindi Michele
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Books:
historical-fiction
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